How to Update Your Blog with Video Using a Webcam

BLOGGER
I've been using Google's Blogger for over 6 months and I just set-up my webcam, Logitech's QuickCam for Notebook computers to use on Skype phone calls. Besides using the webcam for video phone calls, the program that comes with Logitech's Quick Cam for Notebooks also comes with two other great features - the option to take still photos or videos.

HOW TO TAKE A VIDEO USING A WEBCAM
While you see many people using webcams to record videos of themselves to load on You Tube you can also record videos to just as easily load on your blog. But taking things one step further, since I don't have a video camera, I was able to just take my laptop computer and clip my webcam on it facing in the opposite direction pointed away from me. In this mode, I was able to make a quick 30 second video of someone else.

MAKING VIDEOS OF SOMEONE ELSE FOR YOUR BLOG
In this application of webcam as video recorder, my Mom wanted to send a video shout-out to my husband to thank him for making some customized cabinetry. The Logitech QuickCam has a built-in microphone so I didn't have to worry about audio. My laptop was able to double as my camera and monitor and I was able to shoot a quick 30 second video of my Mom standing in front of and showing off her new bread box cabinet. OK, so I'm no Scorsese. I specialize in shaky cam but I think the video at least gets the message across.

BLOGGING VS. E-MAILING
My Mom also wanted to show my husband's Mom what my husband had built and by association thank her for producing such a handy son. Since they live thousands of miles apart, this video would allow her to quickly see images. We could just as easily have mailed the webcam produced video. By loading the webcam video onto the blog it is also available for other family members to view.

TAKING STILLS USING MY WEBCAM
Just for kicks I also took a few still photos of my Mom and I to use in my blog posting in addition to the video. If you're familiar with Blogger, you know how easy it is to load photos onto your blog. The process is exactly the same to load videos. Although it takes a little longer, it loads pretty quickly and is great when you just want a quick video to show or demonstrate something on your blog. If a picture tells a thousand words, then a short video conveys a million.

TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE WHO CALL YOU
When my husband called me, I was also able to take some quick still pictures of him holding our cat. Amazing. You often think of downloading pictures or images from your camera as fodder to load on to your blog. But you can also get instant content and inspiration from taking stills of people who call you and they might hold up to the camera something interesting to show you. This is especially important and useful when you have business colleagues or family who are out of town.

VALUE OF A BUILT-IN MICROPHONE ON YOUR WEBCAM
If you don't already have a webcam, look for a camera that has a built-in microphone. If possible, select one that has background noise cancelling or eliminating features. A built-in microphone has the added advantage of allowing you to talk or create a You Tube video or video for your blog without the look of a headset.